Former Schenectady politician Joe Allen dies at 79

Lifelong resident recalled for love of his hometown

Published 11:30 pm, Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Schenectady City Councilman Joseph Allen at his home on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union archive)

Schenectady City Councilman Joseph Allen at his home on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union archive)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

Image 2 of 6

Schenectady City Council member Joseph Allen is shown in November 2006. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Schenectady City Council member Joseph Allen is shown in November 2006. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

Image 3 of 6

Schenectady City Council President Joe Allen at his home in January 1999. (James Goolsby/Times Union archive)

Schenectady City Council President Joe Allen at his home in January 1999. (James Goolsby/Times Union archive)

Photo: JAMES GOOLSBY

Image 4 of 6

Joseph Allen, seated, is shown with his grandson, Raymond Joseph Allen-Bowman, 5, and son-in-law Raymond C. Bowman in this family photo. (Photo provided by Lakeia Allen-Bowman)

Joseph Allen, seated, is shown with his grandson, Raymond Joseph Allen-Bowman, 5, and son-in-law Raymond C. Bowman in this family photo. (Photo provided by Lakeia Allen-Bowman)

Image 5 of 6

Joseph Allen is shown with his daughter, Lakeia Allen-Bowman, and grandson, Raymond Joseph Allen-Bowman, 5, in a family photo. (Photo courtesy of Lakeia Allen-Bowman)

Joseph Allen is shown with his daughter, Lakeia Allen-Bowman, and grandson, Raymond Joseph Allen-Bowman, 5, in a family photo. (Photo courtesy of Lakeia Allen-Bowman)

Image 6 of 6

Joseph Allen is shown with his grandson, Raymond Joseph Allen-Bowman, in a family photo. (Photo courtesy of Lakeia Allen-Bowman)

Joseph Allen is shown with his grandson, Raymond Joseph Allen-Bowman, in a family photo. (Photo courtesy of Lakeia Allen-Bowman)

Former Schenectady politician Joe Allen dies at 79

1 / 6

Back to Gallery

Schenectady

Joseph "Joe" Allen was a man who never forgot that he was from 944 Strong St. in the Hamilton Hill neighborhood of his beloved Schenectady.

Early Wednesday morning, his son-in-law Raymond C. Bowman found Allen unconscious in his lifelong home.

He was 79 years old.

Friends and family recalled Allen as a deeply religious man who doted on his grandson, Raymond Joseph Allen-Bowman, 5, and was an outspoken advocate for the disadvantaged and African-Americans in the Electric City.

In 1996, Allen, a Democrat, made history by being elected the first African-American to serve on the City Council.

He served 16 years, including as president.

Before that, he served as president of the Hamilton Hill Neighborhood Association. In 2011, he told the Times Union he got involved in politics because he would attend the municipal gatherings only to become frustrated when the panel went into executive session.

After losing the first time, his sophomore campaign for municipal office proved successful.

During his tenure, Allen pushed for getting more people of color on the police and fire departments, enforcing residency requirements and curbing what he contended were rampant police brutality and profiling.

Allen retired in 1999 after 34 years with the state Division of Youth Services.

"He was the ultimate Schenectady guy, gave a lot of inspiration to a lot of people, and always had the least fortunate people in mind when making decisions" said City Court Judge Mark Blanchfield, who served with Allen on the City Council. "To walk down the street was a parade, he knew so many people of many types."

His daughter, Lakeia Allen-Bowman, of Niskayuna said they shared a special bond. "He was a great friend to me, we laughed a lot together, shared jokes and I could really talk to him about everything and anything," she said. Allen-Bowman said her father attended college at Kentucky State and then served in the Army before returning home.

"He really just loved his city," said Allen-Bowman, who described her father as a "lifetime community servant." He worked with youngsters at Carver Community Center. Allen was also a lifelong member of Duryee Memorial AME Zion Church, where he sang with the male chorus.

Bowman said Allen was to accompany them on a family trip to Disney World next week.

Allen had a winter home in the Tampa Bay area.

"He was a man's man, he was upright, carried himself in a really dignified way, and never had to force his will to command respect from people," said Bowman. "He loved the city, loved fighting for people, and especially the underdog."